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Southwick police K-9 and handler named Narcotics Detection Team of the Year

SOUTHWICK – Nearly six months after leading police to Agawam's biggest drug bust in the town's history, Southwick K-9 Officer Thomas L. Krutka and his partner, Jax, have been recognized for the major role they played in the discovery.

Named on April 15 as the Narcotic Detection Team of the Year for 2014 by the Massachusetts Police Work Dog Association during its annual training conference at the Westover Air Force facility, Krutka and Jax were presented with a plaque honoring them for their work on Oct. 17, 2014.

"We at the Southwick Police Department are pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Police Work Dog Association honored our K-9 team with a prestigious award at their annual training conference this week at the Westover Air Force facility," said Southwick Police Chief David A. Ricardi.

Jax, a nine-year-old Belgian Malinois who is showing no signs of slowing down, knows how to "turn it off when he's home and be a big baby," but when he's wearing his vest and badge he becomes a different dog, Krutka said.

"When it's time to go to work, it's time to go to work," he said. "That's what a K-9 does. It's nothing personal. It's just a game to him."

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